The next day, at the World Economic News Agency headquarters on the Sabaody Archipelago.
"Captain Brook, your bounty poster's been updated again. It's for beating Bloody Fist Scaledo without even lifting a finger yesterday, and for your strength in going toe-to-toe with the Supernova Golden Lion. Your bounty is now 120 million Beli, making you the lowest-bounty Supernova, too."
Shakky said excitedly, clearly proud of her captain's strength.
"Looks like it's time to set sail and look for crewmates!"
Brook had decided he was strong enough to go back to sea. Moore Thomas had also sent people to Jaya Island to find a base, in preparation for moving the news agency's headquarters there later.
Most of this year's Supernovas were still making their way through the Grand Line. Brook needed to get his own crew together soon, too.
That morning, after speaking with Moore Thomas, he began buying supplies and loading them onto the pirate ship berthed at Grove 50. They brought the Eternal Pose and Den Den Mushi aboard, then the three-man crew set sail again as the Moore family watched them go.
"Captain, our first stop is the once-prosperous shipbuilding capital?"
Shakky, the navigator, sounded a little puzzled. The strongest shipwrights were now on the Sabaody Archipelago, and Water 7's shipbuilding industry had steadily declined after the Aqua Laguna tsunami caused by Aqua Laguna, the Water Gods.
It was only later, thanks to the Sea Train built by Fish-Man Tom, that Water 7 regained its prosperity and once again became known as the shipbuilding capital.
"That's right. It has the best shipbuilding technology!"
Brook knew that Water 7 had the blueprints for the Ancient Weapon Pluton. Tom should be in his thirties by now, and was older than Roger. Brook wondered whether Roger had reached Water 7 yet to build his new ship, the Oro Jackson.
Since Antonio was useless, Brook handled the sails and helm while Shakky kept an eye on the Grand Line's weather.
Meanwhile, Golden Lion Shiki had also loaded plenty of Yarukiman Mangrove leaves onto his ship. He hadn't found any leaves from Sun Tree Eve or Treasure Wood Adam, since Brook had already scavenged them all.
After a day's rest, this Golden Lion's Number 36 Mobile Den Den Mushi had finally perked up again. Shiki immediately picked it up and checked the messages on its little screen.
He wanted to see what these so-called strong fighters thought, and he also needed to keep an eye on when the Mobile Den Den Mushi lit up.
[Number 18: What do you all think? Does this year's Supernova, Golden Lion Shiki, have the potential to become a top fighter?]
[Number 15: A rookie's still a rookie. No matter how strong they are, they're still a weak rookie. This little punk can't even use Haki.]
[Number 9: The New World's weather is even worse. His Float-Float Fruit will make things even more dangerous. If he barges into the New World without knowing what he's doing, he might end up lost at sea!]
[Number 6: The chosen one of this era should be Rocks D. Xebec. Terrifying Three Types of Haki, an evil Devil Fruit, and an overbearing personality. I predict he'll bring most of the Supernovas under his command, and Golden Lion won't be an exception!]
What? I'm the Golden Lion! How could I ever submit to someone else? So what if he has the Three Types of Haki? I'll learn them soon enough!
[Number 44: I finally captured one! You outlaws dare to seek information on the Poneglyphs? I'll round you all up sooner or later. I'm an Admiral at Marine Headquarters, and I...]
[Number 2: Number 44's Den Den Mushi has died. Don't worry, everyone. Revealing your identity and threatening others is forbidden here. Otherwise, the Mobile Den Den Mushi in your hand will die, and you'll lose your chance to join the circle of the strongest.]
[Number 9: By the way, Number 2, you must be really strong. Are you one of those old-timers who've lived for a hundred years?]
[Number 2: A hundred years? I'm a member of a rare race. I'm 256 years old now.]
Golden Lion Shiki could only marvel at that. He stared at the Mobile Den Den Mushi's darkened screen, his mind in turmoil. Thinking about their assessment of him, he refused to believe a word of it. He would get stronger, as strong as those people. He would master all Three Types of Haki!
Once the Flying Pirate Crew's ship had been coated, Golden Lion Shiki set off for Fish-Man Island, ready to enter the New World, challenge the strong, and find a way to train in the Three Types of Haki!
"Captain Brook, I think the storm blew us off course."
Shakky said sheepishly. But Brook was partly to blame, too. With so few hands aboard, they hadn't taken in the sails in time, and that had caused a bit of trouble.
"It's fine. We can just adjust our course! Let's stop at that island ahead and rest for a while!"
They'd reached the island anyway, so they might as well go ashore and take a look.
"Understood, Captain."
With the three of them at the controls, the pirate ship soon entered the island's harbor. It was a remote island, but it had quite a few residents.
Brook hadn't formed a new pirate crew yet and wasn't flying a pirate flag, so the islanders only watched the newcomers warily. They didn't try to drive them away.
Shakky was an articulate intelligence agent with a harmless-looking face. She quickly found out about the island: there was nothing special about it, except that some strange things had been happening lately.
With Beli to grease the wheels, Brook and the others soon reached the village center, where they shopped, ate, and enjoyed the local customs.
"Ma'am, I heard strange things have been happening on the island. Could you tell me what's going on?"
Shakky, a young girl with short black hair, had a likable air about her, and she spoke kindly.
"You outsiders should leave as soon as you can. There's a monster that can make people lose their memories. Lots of people on the island have forgotten their friends, as if their memories had been stolen. Some don't even recognize their own children anymore."
The old woman gestured wildly as she explained. After hearing her, Antonio unconsciously edged a little farther behind Brook.
"A monster that eats memories?"
Brook seemed to remember a little creature like that. He hadn't expected it to have appeared so many years ago. His interest was piqued, and he decided to stay on the island for a day and see if he could catch it.
By a pond on the edge of the village that opened directly into the sea, a pink seahorse lay in wait. Ever since it had happened to look up and see a migrating flock of Millennium Dragons passing by,
the wish to become a flying Millennium Dragon had taken root in its heart. Using its natural ability, it began devouring the islanders' memories and slowly growing stronger. Its ability to consume memories grew more powerful by the day.
One day, it would devour the memories of everyone on the island and evolve into a flying Millennium Dragon. Then it would be able to soar freely through the sky.
It waited quietly for nightfall and for the humans to fall asleep. Then it hopped out of the pond again and bounced toward the village. It was a little difficult for a sea creature.
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